Article securing strap assembly

ABSTRACT

An article securing strap assembly for attaching an article to a supporting structure, comprising an adjustable-length article-engaging strap and an adjustable-length article-holding strap. The article-engaging strap includes a releasable connector for selectively configuring the strap between a closed loop configuration for engaging the strap around an article, such as a golf bag, and an open loop configuration for disengaging the strap therefrom, a D-ring slidably supported by the strap, and a length adjustment device. The article-holding strap has a first end provided with a first releasable fastener, a second end provided with a second releasable fastener, a length adjustment device, and a D-ring slidably supported by the strap. The first releasable fastener is releasably attached to the D-ring of the article-engaging strap, while the second releasable fastener is provided for releasably attaching the article-holding strap to the supporting structure, such as a golf cart.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to strap assemblies for securingarticles to a supporting structure, and more particularly to an improvedadjustable-length article securing strap assembly adapted forconveniently removably securing an article in a luggage compartment of avehicle to a stationary object such as a fence.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Many vehicles are provided with a cargo compartments fortransporting various heavy articles. One example, is a golf cart with acompartment or shelf for carrying a golf bag.

[0005] A great deal of attention has been paid to the design of bothgolf cars and golf bags, in order to enable them to assist golfers inenjoying their game. The basic use of a golf bag is to carry a set ofgolf clubs and related smaller golf accessories. Presently manydifferent types of golf bags are available to serve this basic purpose.The most common type of golf bag available is formed with an elongated,generally cylindrical body portion with a closed bottom. The top of thebag is open in order to allow golf clubs to be inserted handle firstinto the elongated body portion of the golf bag. A shoulder strap isadjustably fixed along one longitudinal side of the golf bag allowing itto be carried on the shoulder of the golfer. Several pockets are usuallyprovided about the periphery of the golf bag for storage of the smallergolf accessories such as golf balls and tees. Larger pockets aresometimes also provided on golf bags for storage of other items such asclothing in order to make it easier for the user to change clothes whendesired.

[0006] Motorized golf carts provide convenient transportation forgolfers as well as golf bags, golf clubs and any other items a golfermay wish to bring along while playing golf. However, securing of thegolf bags in a golf cart can sometimes be awkward and the bag issometimes subject to inadvertent detachment.

[0007] Currently, special golf cart attachments are employed forreliably securing of the golf bags in the golf cart cargo compartment.However, they are heavy, expensive and cumbersome.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need for a device for easily and reliablysecuring the golf bags or other similarly shaped articles in the cartcargo compartment of the golf carts or other vehicles that is simple,inexpensive, and easy-to-use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The invention contemplates a novel article securing strapassembly for attaching an article to a supporting structure.

[0010] The present invention is applicable to a variety of articles,especially elongated bags, such as golf bags, duffle bags, etc., andadapted to be attached with the article securing strap assembly tovarious kinds of the supporting structures, such as support bars incargo compartments of vehicles, like golf carts, or stationary objectssuch as chain-link fences.

[0011] The article securing strap assembly of the present inventioncomprises a combination of an adjustable-length article-engaging strapand an adjustable-length article-holding strap. The article-engagingstrap includes a releasable connector for selectively configuring thearticle-engaging strap between a closed loop configuration for engagingthe strap around the article, such as the golf bag, and an open loopconfiguration for disengaging the strap therefrom, a D-ring slidablysupported by the article-engaging strap, and a length adjustment devicefor adjusting a length of the article-engaging strap. Thearticle-holding strap has a first end provided with a first releasablefastener, such as a snap hook, a second end provided with a secondreleasable fastener, a length adjustment device for adjusting a lengthof the article-holding strap, and a D-ring slidably supported by thearticle-holding strap. The first releasable fastener is releasablyattached to the D-ring of the article-engaging strap, while the secondreleasable fastener is provided for releasably attaching thearticle-holding strap to the supporting structure, such as the golfcart.

[0012] The article-holding strap of the present invention selectivelyand releasably engages the supporting structure in one of threedifferent positions:

[0013] a first position wherein the article-holding strap is attached tothe supporting structure by wrapping the second end of thearticle-holding strap around the supporting structure, such as thesupport bar in the cargo compartments of the golf cart or the like, andreleasably attaching the second releasable fastener to the D-ring of thearticle-engaging strap;

[0014] a second position wherein the article-holding strap is attachedto the supporting structure by wrapping the second end of thearticle-holding strap around the supporting structure, and releasablyattaching the second releasable fastener to the D-ring of thearticle-holding strap; and

[0015] a third position wherein the article-holding strap is attached tothe supporting structure by releasably attaching the second releasablefastener to the supporting structure, such as chain-link fence or thelike.

[0016] Therefore, the article securing strap assembly in accordance withthe present invention provides a simple, inexpensive, durable and easilymanipulated mechanism readily allowing simple securing and safetransportation of the variety of different articles, such as the golfbags, in the cargo compartment of the vehicle, such as the golf cart, orsecuring the articles to the various static supporting structures, suchas a fence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from a study of the following specification when viewed inlight of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article securing strap assemblyin accordance with the present invention in an open configuration.

[0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the article securing strapassembly in accordance with the present invention in a closedconfiguration.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a golf bag secured on a golfcart by means of the article securing strap assembly in accordance withthe present invention engaging a golf cart support bar in a firstposition of a article-holding strap.

[0021]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a golf bag secured on a golfcart by means of the article securing strap assembly in accordance withthe present invention engaging the golf cart support bar in a secondposition of the article-holding strap.

[0022]FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a golf bag secured to achain-link fence by means of the article securing strap assembly inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] The present invention is directed to an article securing strapassembly indicated generally at 10, for securing an article, such as agolf bag, to a supporting structure, such as a support bar of a golfcart or a fence. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the article securingstrap assembly 10 comprises an adjustable-length article-engaging strap12 adapted for engaging the article (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2), and anadjustable-length article-holding strap 40 adapted for attaching thearticle-engaging strap 12 to the supporting structure (not shown inFIGS. 1 and 2).

[0024] The article-engaging strap 12 includes an article-engaging strapportion 14 made of a flexible and durable material, such as fabric orwoven plastic web, having a first end 16, a second end 18, and areleasable coupling device in the form of a connector 20. The connector20 allows the article-engaging strap 12 to be selectively configurablebetween two configurations: a closed loop configuration, as shown inFIG. 1, wherein the strap 12 is engaged around the article, and an openloop configuration, as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the strap 12 isdisengaged from the article. The particular type of the connector 20employed in this strap assembly 10 may be of any appropriate type knownto those skilled in the art. In the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the connector 20 includes two separate parts: a firstconnector member 22 provided at the first end 16 of the strap portion14, and a second connector member 24 complementary to the firstconnector member 22, provided at the second end 18 of the strap portion14.

[0025] The article-engaging strap 12 further includes a ring member 28slidably supported by the strap portion 14. preferably, the ring member28 is a D-ring made of metal. Alternatively, more than one ring members28 may be employed. Also, the article-engaging strap 12 includes aplurality of eyelets 30 slidably supported by the strap portion 14. Theeyelets 30 are adapted to support variety of auxiliary items, such as akey holder, a container for a water bottle, etc., and may be used forattaching clip fasteners with a key ring, such as depicted by numeral 32

[0026] Furthermore, the article-engaging strap 12 includes a firststrap-length adjustment device 34 for adjusting a length of thearticle-engaging strap portion 14. The strap-length adjustment device 34shown is of a well known type and does not require detailed description.The length of the article-engaging strap portion 14 of the presentinvention is infinitely adjustable to an outside perimeter of a varietyof articles, such as nearly any gulf bag, because the length is adjustedcontinuously by the use of the strap-length adjustment device 34.

[0027] The article-holding strap 40 includes an article-holding strapportion 41 made of a flexible and durable material, similar to thematerial of the article-engaging strap portion 14. The strap portion 41has a first end 42 and a second end 44. The first end 42 of the strapportion 41 is provided with a first releasable fastener 46 attachedthereto. Similarly, the second end 44 of the strap portion 41 isprovided with a second releasable fastener 48 attached thereto. It willbe appreciated that the particular type of the first and secondreleasable fasteners 46 and 48 employed in this strap assembly 10 may beof any appropriate type known to those skilled in skilled in the art. Inthe preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first and secondreleasable fasteners 46 and 48 are snap hooks well known in the art andtherefore will not be discussed herein in detail.

[0028] The first end 42 of the strap portion 41 is releasably attachedto the ring member 28 of the article-engaging strap 12 by means of thefirst releasable fastener 46. The second end 44 of the strap portion 41selectively and releasably engages the supporting structure in one ofthree different positions:

[0029] first position wherein the article-holding strap 40 is attachedto the supporting structure by wrapping the second end 44 of thearticle-holding strap 40 around the supporting structure, and releasablyattaching the second releasable fastener 48 to the D-ring 28 of thearticle-engaging strap 12;

[0030] second position wherein the article-holding strap 40 is attachedto the supporting structure by wrapping the second end 44 of thearticle-holding strap 40 around the supporting structure, and releasablyattaching the second releasable fastener 48 to the D-ring 52 of thearticle-holding strap 40; and

[0031] third position wherein the article-holding strap 40 is attachedto the supporting structure by releasably attaching the secondreleasable fastener 48 to the supporting structure. attached to thesupporting structure by releasably attaching the second releasablefastener 48 to the supporting structure.

[0032] Further in accordance with the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, the article-holding strap 40 includes a secondstrap-length adjustment device 50 for adjusting a length of thearticle-holding strap portion 41 between the first and second endsthereof 42 and 44 respectively. The second strap-length adjustmentdevice 50 is substantially similar to the first strap-length adjustmentdevice 34, and is well known to those skilled in the art.

[0033] FIGS. 3-5 illustrate some of the many possible applications ofthe invention.

[0034] As depicted in FIGS. 3-5, the article secured to the supportingstructure by the article securing strap assembly 10, is a conventionalgolf bag 6. It would be appreciated that other articles, such as dufflebags, various boxes, etc., are also within the scope of the presentinvention.

[0035] As depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4, the supporting structure to whichthe golf bag 6 is secured, is a support bar 4 provided in a cargocompartment 3 of a golf cart 2 by means of the article securing strapassembly 10 of the present invention. It would be appreciated that anyappropriate supporting structures in other types of vehicles, such ascars, pickup trucks, vans, etc., are also within the scope of thepresent invention.

[0036] More particularly, FIG. 3 shows the golf bag 6 secured in thecargo compartment 3 of the golf cart 2 by means of the article securingstrap assembly 10, wherein the article-engaging strap 12 is wrappedaround the golf bag 6 in the closed loop configuration, and thearticle-holding strap 40 engages the support bar 4 in the first positionin which the second end 44 of the strap 40 is wrapped around the supportbar 4 and the second releasable fastener 48 is attached to the D-ring 28of the article-engaging strap 12. The eyelet 30 of the article-engagingstrap 12 supports a key 62.

[0037]FIG. 4 shows the golf bag 6 secured in the cargo compartment 3 ofthe golf cart 2 by means of the article securing strap assembly 10,wherein the article-engaging strap 12 is wrapped around the golf bag 6in the closed loop configuration, and the article-holding strap 40engages the support bar 4 in the second position in which the second end44 of the strap 40 is wrapped around the support bar 4 and the secondreleasable fastener 48 is attached to the D-ring 52 of thearticle-holding strap 40. The eyelet 30 of the article-engaging strap 12supports a water bottle 60.

[0038] As depicted in FIG. 5, the supporting structure to which the golfbag 6 is secured, is a static structure, such as a chain-link fence 8.It would be appreciated that any other appropriate static supportingstructures, such as various fences, gates, some building elements, etc.,are also within the scope of the present invention.

[0039] The golf bag 6 may be secured to the static structure by means ofthe article securing strap assembly 10 in one of the three differentpositions, as discussed above. In the particular exemplary embodimentillustrated in FIG. 5, the golf bag 6 is secured to the chain-link fence8 by means of the article securing strap assembly 10, wherein thearticle-engaging strap 12 is wrapped around the golf bag 6 in the closedloop configuration, and the article-holding strap 40 engages thechain-link fence 8 in the third position in which the second releasablefastener 48 of the article-holding strap 40 is directly attached to oneof the wires of the chain-link fence 8. As shown in FIG. 5, the eyelet30 of the article-engaging strap 12 supports a cellular phone 64.

[0040] Therefore, the article securing strap assembly in accordance withthe present invention represents a novel simple, inexpensive, durableand easily manipulated mechanism readily allowing simple securing andsafe transportation of the variety of different articles, such as thegolf bags, in the cargo compartment of the vehicle, such as the golfcart.

[0041] The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration inaccordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formsdisclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light ofthe above teachings. The embodiments disclosed hereinabove were chosenin order to best illustrate the principles of the present invention andits practical application to thereby enable those of ordinary skill inthe art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and withvarious modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated,as long as the principles described herein are followed. Thus, changescan be made in the above-described invention without departing from theintent and scope thereof. It is also intended that the scope of thepresent invention be defined by the claims appended thereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. An article securing strap assembly for attachingan article to a supporting structure, said strap assembly comprising: anarticle-engaging strap including a releasable coupling device forselectively configuring said strap between a closed loop configurationfor engaging said strap around an article and an open loop configurationfor disengaging said strap from said article; and an article-holdingstrap including: a first end provided with a first releasable fastenerattached to said first end; and a second end provided with a secondreleasable fastener attached to said second end; wherein said firstreleasable fastener is releasably attached to said article-engagingstrap, and wherein said second releasable fastener is provided forreleasably attaching said article-holding strap to said supportingstructure.
 2. The article securing strap assembly as defined in claim 1,wherein said article-holding strap is attached to said supportingstructure by wrapping said second end of said article-holding straparound said supporting structure and releasably attaching said secondreleasable fastener to said article-engaging strap.
 3. The articlesecuring strap assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein saidarticle-holding strap is attached to said supporting structure bywrapping said second end of said article-holding strap around saidsupporting structure and releasably attaching said second releasablefastener to said article-holding strap.
 4. The article securing strapassembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said article-holding strap isattached to said supporting structure by releasably attaching saidsecond releasable fastener thereto.
 5. The article securing strapassembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said article-engaging strapincludes at least one ring member slidably supported by saidarticle-engaging strap, and wherein said first releasable fastener isreleasably attached to said ring member of said article-engaging strap.6. The article securing strap assembly as defined in claim 5, whereinsaid article-holding strap is attached to said supporting structure bywrapping said second end of said article-holding strap around saidsupporting structure and releasably attaching said second releasablefastener to said ring member of said article-engaging strap.
 7. Thearticle securing strap assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein saidarticle-holding strap includes at least one ring member slidablysupported by said article-holding strap.
 8. The article securing strapassembly as defined in claim 7, wherein said article-holding strap isattached to said supporting structure by wrapping said second end ofsaid article-holding strap around said supporting structure andreleasably attaching said second releasable fastener to said ring memberof said article-holding strap.
 9. The article securing strap assembly asdefined in claim 1, wherein said article-engaging strap includes aplurality of ring members slidably supported by said article-engagingstrap, and wherein said first releasable fastener is releasably attachedto one of said ring member of said article-engaging strap.
 10. Thearticle securing strap assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein saidarticle-holding strap is attached to said supporting structure bywrapping said second end of said article-holding strap around saidsupporting structure and releasably attaching said second releasablefastener to one of said ring members of said article-engaging strap. 11.The article securing strap assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein saidarticle is a golf bag.
 12. The article securing strap assembly asdefined in claim 1, wherein said supporting structure is a bar memberprovided on a golf cart.
 13. The article securing strap assembly asdefined in claim 5, wherein said ring member of said article-engagingstrap is a D-ring.
 14. The article securing strap assembly as defined inclaim 7, wherein said ring member of said article-holding strap is aD-ring.
 15. The article securing strap assembly as defined in claim 9,wherein said ring member of said article-engaging strap is a D-ring. 16.The article securing strap assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein saidfirst and second releasable fasteners are snap hooks.
 17. The articlesecuring strap assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein saidarticle-engaging strap further including a first strap length adjustmentdevice for adjusting a length of said article-engaging strap.
 18. Thearticle securing strap assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein saidarticle-holding strap further including a second strap length adjustmentdevice for adjusting a length of said article-holding strap.
 19. Thearticle securing strap assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein saidarticle-engaging strap further including a plurality of eyelets slidablysupported by said article-engaging strap for attaching auxiliary items.20. The article securing strap assembly as defined in claim 19, whereinat least one of said eyelets is provided with a releasable fastener forattaching said auxiliary items thereto.
 21. The article securing strapassembly as defined in claim 20, wherein said releasable fastener is asnap hook.
 22. An article securing strap assembly for attaching anarticle to a supporting structure, said strap assembly comprising: anarticle-engaging strap including a releasable coupling device forselectively configuring said strap between a closed loop configurationfor engaging said strap around an article and an open loop configurationfor disengaging said strap from said article; and an article-holdingstrap including: a first end provided with a first releasable fastenerattached to said first end; and a second end provided with a secondreleasable fastener attached to said second end; wherein said firstreleasable fastener is releasably attached to said article-engagingstrap, and wherein said article-holding strap selectively and releasablyengages said supporting structure in one of a first position whereinsaid second end is wrapped around said supporting structure and saidsecond releasable fastener is releasably attached to saidarticle-engaging strap, a second position wherein said second end iswrapped around said supporting structure and said second releasablefastener is releasably attached to said article-holding strap, and athird position wherein said second releasable fastener is releasablyattached to said supporting structure.